Plymouth Whalers name head coach, GM, president

The Plymouth Whalers today announced sweeping front office changes stemming from the promotion of longtime General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci to the Carolina Hurricanes in April.

Vellucci, 47, who is now the assistant general manager and director of hockey operations for the Carolina Hurricanes, remains the Whalers’ governor (or team representative to the league).

He previously was general manager and head coach, duties which now have been split among several employees.

The Hurricanes are the Whalers’ National Hockey League parent team, and both are owned by Peter Karmanos Jr., the retired chairman and co-founder of Detroit-based Compuware Corp.

Dennis Moore

The other management and coaching moves unveiled in a statement today by the major junior ice hockey franchise:

Dennis Moore, 43, has been promoted to president and CFO of the team and Compuware Arena. He’s been with the team since 1997.

Mike Henry, 31, has been promoted to vice president and general manager of Compuware Arena. He’s been arena manager since 2007.

Mark Craig, 61, has been hired as general manager of the Whalers. He was coach of the Windsor Spitfires in 1984 when Karmanos bought that team.

Don Elland, 50, has been promoted to head coach of the Whalers. He was hired as an assistant coach in 2010.

Joe Stefan, 48, has been promoted to assistant general manager of the Whalers. A former scout, he was hired as an assistant coach in 2007.

Peter Karmanos Jr.

Karmanos launched the team as the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors in 1990, and they were called the Detroit Junior Red Wings for a time. They were the Detroit Whalers from 1995 to 1997 before taking their current name in 1998.

They play at 3,807-seat Compuware Arena, built in Plymouth Township by Karmanos in 1996.

The Whalers have made the playoffs an OHL record 23 consecutive seasons.